enemy soldier captured for the purpose of extracting information
HSK 6, n, rank #3235, Hard
shétou(she2tou5) T2
1tongue
2>个[gè]
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March 24, 2026
舌头(舌頭)shétou(she2tou5)
舌头 (shétou) refers to the tongue, which is a vital organ for taste and speech in humans. It is commonly used in both literal contexts, such as discussing food or language, and metaphorical contexts, such as expression and communication.
Frequency#3235DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the tongue is often associated with taste and communication, making it a significant topic in discussions about food and relationships. The phrase '舌战群儒' (shé zhàn qún rú) refers to using eloquence to argue against many scholars.
Memory Tip
Imagine a long, flexible tongue (舌) that can taste a lot of foods, while the character's radical resembles a mouth (口) expressing words. The sound 'she2' can be remembered as the sound made when something is tasted or savored, like 'sheer delight' in flavor.
Meanings of 舌头
shétou(she2tou5)
1tongue
2enemy soldier captured for the purpose of extracting information
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 舌头
舌头Simplified
舌頭Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3235Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 舌头
Podcast: 舌头
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AI Study Notes for 舌头
Quick Contrast
舌 (shé) refers specifically to the tongue as an organ, while 舌头 (shétou) is the more common term used in everyday language.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a long, flexible tongue (舌) that can taste a lot of foods, while the character's radical resembles a mouth (口) expressing words. The sound 'she2' can be remembered as the sound made when something is tasted or savored, like 'sheer delight' in flavor.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 舌头 with other body parts like 牙 (teeth) or 嘴 (mouth). This term is informal, so in formal writing, you may encounter 舌 (shé) used on its own. A common collocation is 舌头疼 (shétou téng), meaning 'tongue pain'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 舌头 connects with other vocabulary related to body parts and senses, helping students deepen their understanding of anatomy and sensory experiences in Mandarin. Focus on using it in conversational contexts to practice fluency.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the tongue is often associated with taste and communication, making it a significant topic in discussions about food and relationships. The phrase '舌战群儒' (shé zhàn qún rú) refers to using eloquence to argue against many scholars.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 舌头 with the word for 'lip' (嘴唇, zuǐchún). For example, saying '我有舌头痛' instead of '我有舌头疼' (I have tongue pain) is incorrect; the correct term is 舌头疼.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 舌头
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Grammar Patterns of 舌头
舌头 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我走到镜子前面伸出____。
I walked over to the mirror and stuck my tongue out.
Example Sentences for 舌头 (10)
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1
我走到镜子前面伸出舌头。
wǒ zǒu dào jìng zǐ qián miàn shēn chū shé tóu。
I walked over to the mirror and stuck my tongue out.
2
他伸出舌头，鼻翼扇动着。
tā shēn chū shé tóu， ， bí yì shàn dòng。
He stuck out his tongue and flared his nostrils.
3
特迪咂了咂舌头，活像个不以为然的英国女舍监。
tè dí zā le zā shé tóu， ， huó xiàng gè bù yǐ wéi rán de yīng guó nǚ shě。
Teddy clucked his tongue like a disapproving English matron.
4
她做了个鬼脸，向他吐了吐舌头。
tā zuò le gè guǐ liǎn， ， xiàng tā tǔ le tǔ shé。
She made a face and stuck out her tongue at him.
5
那只狗伸着舌头从树林里蹒跚地跑回来。
nà zhī gǒu shēn zháo shé tóu cóng shù lín lǐ pán shān dì pǎo huí lái。
Tongue lolling, the dog came lolloping back from the forest.
6
他的舌头被红椒辣得发麻.
tā de shé tóu bèi hóng jiāo là dé fā má.
He burnes his tongue with red pepper.
7
他的舌头被红辣椒辣得好难受.
tā de shé tóu bèi hóng là jiāo là dé hǎo nán shòu.
He burned his tongue with red pepper.
8
那些厚脸皮的男孩儿朝着我们伸舌头。
nà xiē hòu liǎn pí de nán hái ér zhāo zháo wǒ mén shēn shé tóu。
The brassy boys put their tongues out at us.
9
那些厚脸皮的男孩儿朝着我们伸舌头.
nà xiē hòu liǎn pí de nán hái ér zhāo zháo wǒ mén shēn shé tóu.
The impudent boys put their tongues out at us.
10
不要向我伸舌头, 你这个没规矩的丫头!
bù yào xiàng wǒ shēn shé tóu, , nǐ zhè gè méi guī jǔ de yā!
Don't put out your tongue at me, you cheeky girl!
Cultural Notes for 舌头
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the tongue is often associated with taste and communication, making it a significant topic in discussions about food and relationships. The phrase '舌战群儒' (shé zhàn qún rú) refers to using eloquence to argue against many scholars.
Frequently Asked Questions about 舌头
You can say '我用舌头尝试这个菜' (I use my tongue to taste this dish).
Common phrases include '舌头快' (quick-witted) and '舌头痛' (tongue pain).
In formal writing, you might see 舌 used alone, but 舌头 is perfectly acceptable in casual conversation.
